Short-term efficacy of exercise therapy for temporomandibular disorders: a case control study

[Purpose] This study compared the short-term outcomes of manual therapy performed by a dentist and home exercises performed by patients as a single exercise therapy program for temporomandibular joint anterior disc displacement without reduction. [Participants and Methods] In this study we included seventeen patients with temporomandibular joint anterior disc displacement without reduction, moderate or greater temporomandibular joint functional impairment, and no treatment interventions. Patients receiving treatment underwent exercise therapy at the time of their first visit, whereas those in the non-treatment group received only an explanation of the condition. We evaluated the clinical symptoms (maximum painless opening distance, pain on motion and mastication, and degree of difficulty in daily life) at the first visit and at the two-week follow-up visit. [Results] For both groups, maximum painless opening distance and degree of difficulty in daily life improved significantly. For the treatment group, the pain on motion and mastication values significantly improved throughout the assessment period. [Conclusion] An exercise therapy program may be useful for the early treatment of temporomandibular joint anterior disc displacement without disc reduction.